Combination container cap and tablet dispenser



F. M. KOEHN 2,923,436

COMBINATION CONTAINER CAP AND TABLET DISPENSER Feb. 2, 1960 Filed July 17, 1958 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

FRANKLIN M. KOEHN BY M 4 COMBINATION CONTAINER CAP AND TABLET DISPENSER Franklin M. Koehn, Mullinville, Kans. Application July 17, 1958, Serial No. 749,130

2 Claims. (Cl. 221-265) This invention relates to bottle caps of the dispensing type wherein tablets or pills are -supplied singly by turning an element of the cap, and in particular a cap threaded on the neck of a bottle with a spindle extended longitudinally through the center of the cap and with agitating and regulating elements for dispensing one pill or tablet at a time on the spindle and in the cap.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a dispensing bottle cap whereby pills and tablets are dispensed singly and wherein waste of pills and tablets is reduced to a minimum.

Various types of dispensers have been provided for use in combination with bottles and other containers, however, as such devices are only required after long periods of time it is sometimes difficult to remember where they are stored. Furthermore when tablets are used from bottles regularly there is considerable waste as it is customary to remove a bottle cap, turn a bottle upside down, and deposit the tablets in the palm of one hand. It is ditlicult to take a single tablet so that usually several tablets pass into the hand and some often spill on the floor. At least the excess tablets in the hand are replaced in thebottle, so that this practice is nbt a it y, I

With these thoughts in mind this invention contemplates a relatively small dispensing unit designed to be threaded on the neck of a bottle in place of the usual bottle cap in which regulating elements are provided so that in removing tablets from the bottle only one tablet is removed 'at a..time. f r I The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a dispensing cap for a bottle containing tablets, pills, and the like whereby the tablets are singly removed from the bottle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cap fora bottle in which the dispensing cap is designed to replace a conventional cap.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a dispensing unit for a bottle in which the unit is designed to be placed in the neck of a conventional bottle without enlarging the bottle or neck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing cap for bottles in which the device may be used with tablets of different sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing bottle cap that is designed to be used on bottles for tablets, pills, and the like and by which the tablets or pills are singly dispensed in which the cap is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a bottle cap having a threaded wall and having a spindle extended from the inner surface of the head, the head having a tablet passing opening therein, a disc having spaced openings therethrough rotatably mounted on the outside of the head of the cap, an agitator positioned on the inner end of the spindle, and a guide ring extended around the spindle and positioned against the inner surface of the cap.

2,923,436 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a bottle with a dispensing cap on the neck thereof supported in a dispensing stand.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a bottle with the bottle in an inverted position and shown on an enlarged scale, and with part of the bottle broken away showing the dispensing unit in the neck thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved dispensing.

unit showing the unit removed from the bottle.

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating the elements of the dispensing unit.

While one embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, his to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is tobe limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable. 7

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a bottle cap having a threaded wall 14 extended from a head 16 in which an opening 18 is provided, and also having a spindle 20 extended from the inner surface of the head, numeral-22 indicating a disc having openings 24 and 26 therein, numeral 28 a shaft extended through the spindle, and the lower end of the shaft being riveted over for retaining the disc against the outer surface of the cap, numeral 30 a ring having legs 32 and 34 extended from ends thereof, and numeral 36 an agitator or feeder positioned on the upper end of the shaft and having arcuate recesses 38 and 40 in opposite sides, and fiat surfaces 42 and 44 between the arcuate surfaces, the feeder being retained on the in the head of the cap. The edge of the disc is provided with notches 48 to facilitate gripping the disc for turning. The edge of the disc may also be knurled or roughened by other means.

The spindle 20 is provided with an opening 50 through which the pin 28 extends and the inner end of the pin is swedged in the agitator 36 or peened over the end thereof whereby the cap, disc, agitator, and ring 30, which is positioned between the cap and agitator, are retained in assembled relation. The disc 22 is fixedly mounted on the pin 28 and is retained in position thereon by a head 52.

The ring 30 is clamped in position against the inner surface of the cap with the legs 32 and 34 thereof straddling the opening 18, whereby, as illustrated in Figure 2, the legs provide guides directing the tablets through the openings of the cap and disc.

Operation With the parts assembled as illustrated and described masses 3 a V with the disc 22, picks up the tablets 58 with the tablets resting against the flat surfaces 42 and 44; and as a tablet reaches the gap between; the legs 32 and 34 of the ring 30 the tablet drops downwardly through the opening 18 in the head ldof; the cap 12,;aud' through, one of I the openings 24' or 26015 the, disc 22. ",Continued'.move v ment of the disc, pin,, and'agitator causes the tableton the, opposite side of the agitator to be dropped, and as rotation of the parts continues additional tablets ,are

picked up and dispensed, The spindle, which is posi-t tioned in the head of theycap provides a bearing for the pin and agitator, V

The dispenser is particularly useful in cases where sirable to provide a stand; such as shown in Figure 1,[ wherein a bottle container 60 is supported by diverging legs 62' extending from U shaped loops, 64 and having knobs 66 of rubber or other suitable material thereon, 7

whereby the legs support the container a suflicient distance above asurface to permit a, hand to be placed, below the dispensing bottle cap 12' forreceiving a tablet or pill dropped therefrom. Theupper end ofthe container 60 is provided with a handle 68 ends 7,0 on. the lower ends of arms 72 of which are held'by spring inherent in thehandle in openings 74 in the sides of, the containerfThe arms, 72 are, provided with offset sections 76 which extend over the upper end of a bottle in the container to prevent accidental separation of the bot tle from the container.

,From the foregoing specification, it willbecome apparcutthat the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it' has" beendesigned and in an economical manner, an d that} its simplicity, accu: racy, and ease of operation are suchas to provide, a,relatively inexpensive device, considering what it willaccomplish, and that itwill find an important place in the art towhich it appertains when once placed on thernarket. It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain aclear understanding of the invention after considering the descriptionin connection with the drawings; Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention,

claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is: p l

1. In a tablet dispenser for use on a bottle, the combination which comprises a cap having a closed end and an open end and having a threaded cylindrical wall, a spindle integral with the closed end of the cap and extended therefrom, the spindle having a bore extended therethrough and the closed end of the cap having a tablet dispensing opening positioned between the spindle and wall, -a disc positionedagainst the end surface of t the capi and having circumfere'ntially:spaced openings therein, said openings beingpositioned to alternately register with, the opening, of thev closed end; ofwthe cap, a stationary ring having' a gap therein mounted in the a cap and positioned with the gap in, registering relation with the opening in the closed end ofthe cap, and a conical-shaped feeder having diametrically opposite longitudinally disposed recesses extended therethrough on the upper end of the spindle and connected to the disc whereby the recesses. are in, a plane normalto a plane through the openingsof the disc. t, t t

2'. In a tabletdijspenser for use on a:bo1t1e, thecombi nation, which comprises a cap. having aclosed endand an open, end and having a threaded cylindrical wall for ,threading on the neck; of, abottle, a spindle integral with the closed end of the cap, and extended therefrom, the spindle'havin g, a bore, extended therethroughand the closed end of the cap having, a; tablet. dispensing, opening P it oned, between the spindle and,wal1,,a disc positioned against the end surface of the cap and having circum ferentially spaced openings, therein, said Openings, being conical shaped' feederhaving diametrically opposite 1on gitudinally, disposed recesses extended therethrough, and a shaft extendedthroughthespindle of the capand posit tioned with the', disc, on the outer end and the feeder on, the inner end whereby the disc. andfeeder rotatetogether, and with, the oppositely. disposed, recesses in a. plane positioned at av right angle to aplane, extended}:

through the openings of 'the disc, with the planesflextended'through the longitudinal/axes, of-the dispenser,

t a direct passage throughthedispenser is not. obtained. ,4

References Citedxin the file ofthis patent UNITED STATESv PATENTS 

